The judgement that has been pronounced today against the generals, Gotovina, Markač and Čermak, is not final.

What lies ahead is the appeal procedure. Having learned that a Trial Chamber has found that the Croatian state leadership acted in a joint criminal enterprise, in contravention of international law and the conventions of the United Nations whose Member State Croatia is, I must declare that to the Government of the Republic of Croatia this is unacceptable.

My Government will continue to do everything within its legal possibilities to repeal this qualification before the Appeals Chamber.

May I only mention that the Government, among other things, also commissioned a study, prepared by the Croatian Academy of Legal Sciences, precisely on the theory of the joint criminal enterprise, and that the Academy sent the study to the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in February this year with the wish to peruse that study and what legal experts had to say in theory about the possibility of such an enterprise.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the life of individuals and nations there are moments that are difficult to accept. Such moments are particularly hard when we feel with all the might that they run against our wishes, our expectations, and our own experience and perception. Our view of the character of the Storm operation is absolutely clear – it was a legitimate military and police action to liberate Croatian state territory from occupation.

I am aware that at this moment our every reaction is being carefully watched and measured, and that our every reaction will be carefully watched and measured in the coming hours. However, I want to say what I believe every Croatian citizen thinks: Ladies and gentlemen, we are not afraid of the truth. We are proud of our victories and of all those who made it possible for Croatia to be free, independent and democratic today.

Croatia is a state with the rule of law in which laws, judicial institutions and their decisions are honoured. I want to thank Croatian citizens for showing dignity and responsibility at this time. Before and above all I want to thank all the Croatian defenders. I am convinced that we shall continue to further demonstrate unity and our faith in the future of Croatia in this situation.

Thank you very much.

In conclusion, I would like to add that I have called a Government meeting today afternoon to discuss our further possible legal steps.